FIREFIGHTERS are using their charity lottery to support injured colleague Andy Adams, who was paralysed while tackling a blaze started deliberately in Greenock.

Andy, 49, was a watch commander at Greenock when the former Larkfield Masonic Association Club was torched last August and a wall collapsed on top of him.

He is still being treated at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, but the father of two’s injuries have brought his operational firefighting career to an end because he can no longer walk and has no feeling below his chest.

His family needs to find a new home, as their current house is not suitable for adaptations that will be needed for Andy.

Now all of the funds raised for good causes this month by the Firefighters 100 Lottery will be donated to Andy, who was in intensive care for weeks.

The lottery, launched by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) last year, gives supporters the opportunity to win cash prizes and raise money for worthy causes.

Chris McGlone of the FBU in Scotland: “Andy’s whole life changed that day and we need to support him as much as we can. The family needs to find a new home as the property the family lives in at the moment isn’t suitable for the adaptations needed to be able to live his life.” 

Andy says the support he has received from those within and outside of the fire service has been phenomenal.

He said: “I want to thank everyone for their support – my family, colleagues and people from all over the country.

“All of that support has given me the motivation to keep going.

“The fire service is like a family. We are always there for each other.” 
FBU general secretary, Matt Wrack, said the whole firefighting community was rallying around Andy.

Mr Wrack said: “Andy served his community with dedication and bravery for over 25 years, and now he needs our help. We take care of our own in the fire service.”

Andy joined the service in 1989 as a retained firefighter in Greenock, and became a full-time firefighter in 1992.

He was soon promoted to crew manager in Ardrossan, then watch manager at Port Glasgow before returning to the Greenock station.

Crimestoppers, who have put up a £10,000 reward to help find those responsible for the suspicious blaze, told the Tele earlier this week that they have received calls with information about it.

A crowdfunding appeal set up to help Andy’s rehabilitation is now around the £20,000 mark.